Hook’s opening Southern League Division One game against New Milton was wiped out at the weekend, despite the valiant efforts of the players on Friday.

Love said: “Players spent all of Friday forking and brushing the pitch, but the water table is so high and on Saturday when you walked out on the square the water was still coming up, so there was no way we could play.”

Hook played on Wednesday – but, with the forecast of more rain at the end of the week, this Saturday’s home game against Sarisbury looks in doubt.

As well as Love, opening batsman Ben Thane and Ross Hunter will miss the game, so there are a few selection problems for Hook ahead of a visit of last season’s second-placed side in Southern League Division One.

Love said: “We saw Sarisbury last week against Basingstoke and they did not look the side they have been in recent years.

“So we fancy our chances on Saturday if we can get the game on and the weather does not stop us.”